Trim unit for facilitating the installation of lightweight window units



y 1965 G. H. FLETCHER 3,184,801

TRIM UNIT FOR FACILITATING THE INSTALLATION OF LIGHTWEIGHT WINDOW UNITSFiled April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

FLETCHER TRIM UNIT FOR FACILITATING THE INSTALLATION i May 25, 1965 G.H.

' 0F LIGHTWEIGHT wmnow UNITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1962 IIIIIIIII II INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,184,801 TRIM UNIT FORFAQILITATING THE INSTALLA- TION OF LIGHTWEIGHT WINDOW UNITS George H.Fletcher, Orlando, Fla, assignor of one-third to Julian C. Renfro,Winter Park, Fla. Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,103 7 Claims. (Cl.20-11) This invention relates to a trim unit for use with combinationwindows, and more particularly to the use of a novel trim unit utilizedto hold multiple track window units more easily and securely in place inan aperture, as well as to provide a pleasing appearance for the rearside of such a window unit.

With the advent of the jalousie type of window utilized so extensivelyin modern building there has been a movement away from the use of heavywooden window sash units with their proneness to rot and stick, as wellas away from the use of large metal frame windows tiltable about theirmid point, so exceedingly dangerous to pedestrians passing closeby.

The Olsen Patent No. 2,965,935 taught the use of highly satisfactoryaluminum frame windows of very lightweight construction which haveproven to be much more satisfactory than jalousie windows, in thatlatter windows are quite prone to leak cold air currents, and to provequite cumbersome and space consuming when used in doors. The Olsenpatent utilizes extruded aluminum material for the window frames inwhich trackways are formed directly therein to receive the upper andlower window sashes as well as the screens, this extruded material inone particular form being known as triple track. Rogers Industries, Inc.of Detroit, Michigan, assignee of the Olsen patent, is a supplier ofsuch material. However, a certain amount of additional labor hasordinarily been involved after a window constructed of such material hasbeen installed, in decorating and insulating the cavity defined betweenthe triple track and the aperture in the building or door in which theinstallation is made.

My invention advantageously provides a novel trim adaptor designed foruse with windows particulary of the type made of extruded aluminummaterial, which adaptor enables the window unit to be held securely inthe aperture with a minimum of fasteners, while at the same timeproviding a most pleasing appearance for the outside of the window, adetail often overlooked by the builder and homeowner alike. Also my trimadaptor is so designed as to assure proper drainage of precipitation.This unit is available in a variety of sizes and configurations -to meetall normal and usual window installations, al-

though in reality trim adaptor material need be extruded in only a fewstandard widths or wall thicknesses in order to make my inventionavailable in conjunction with a wide range of aluminum window units tocomplement in a most effective manner the use of such units in wallopenings and in doors.

A trim unit according to this invention is therefore to be seen to bedesigned for use with a window unit constructed of lightweight channeledmaterial, in the channels of which at least one window panel isslidable. My trim unit is arranged to be received on the opposite sideof the aperture in which the window unit is to be installed, with saidtrim unit comprising a frame-like device arranged to interfit with theside of the window unit opposite the channels thereof. Tightening meansare provided for drawing together the trim and window units intoclamping relation about the periphery of the aperture, and meansintegral with said trim unit are brought into contact with the windowunit during the installation procedure, which serve to enhance theappearance of the side of the window unit nearest the trim unit.

ice

The trim unit according to this invention is constructed of extrudedmaterial in which the cross section thereof comprises a plurality ofportions secured integrally together but angularly disposed with respectto each other. A first of these portions is designed to reside generallyalong a side of the aperture in which the installation is being made,and to be drawn toward the window unit during the installationprocedure, whereas a second of these portions is disposed atapproximately a right angle with respect to said first portion, andserves to reside against the outer surface about the aperture, so thatthe window unit will be held firmly in place. A third portion of theextruded material is disposed on the opposite side of the said firstportion with respect to said second portion, with said third portionserving to contact the side of the window unit nearest said trim unitfor the accomplishment of the beautification of the window unit.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from astudy of the enclosed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates in exploded relation the use of a trim unitaccording to this invention, utilized in conjunction with a modernlightweight window unit for holding securely and elfectively in thecorrect installed position in a door;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view representing to a somewhat larger scalethe lower right hand corner of the trim adaptor unit, this viewexemplifying the trim material according to my invention as well as atypical constructional technique utilized in each corner of the adaptorunit;

FIGURE 3 represents a cross sectional view taken substantiallyhorizontally through left and right side frames of similar windows,revealing the use of dilferent configuration trim material according tomy invention, with central portions of the windows and screen removed inthese views in the interest of clarity;

FIGURE 4 reveals the cross sectional appearance of top and bottomportions of a window the length of which has been foreshortened by theremoval of the central portions of the windows and screen, with the trimmaterial according to this invention used at both the top and bottom ofthis window being of a dilferent configuration from that shown in eitherportion of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view revealing the configuration of apreferred embodiment of trim material in accordance with this invention;and

FIGURE 6 is a considerably enlarged view of the insulating material thatmay be used above the upper window as shown in FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the outside unit or trim unit 10 and the insideunit 11 are shown in exploded relation with respect to a door 12 inwhich an installation according to this invention is to be made, withthe units 10 and 11 being of a configuration as to be received andsecured in interfitting relation in the aperture 13 of the door. Insideunit 11 represents a window and screen unit in accordance with certainprior art, and as revealed in FIGURES 3 and 4, the unit 11 may beconstructed of extruded material of metal or plastic known as tripletrac The window side frames shown in FIGURE 3 as well as the upper andlower portions of the window of FIGURE 4 reveal that the oppositealigned portions of triple track material form channels 11a for lowerwindow panel 14, form channels 11b for receiving upper window panel 15,and form channels for receiving screen 18 of the window unit, it beingunderstood that in accordance with state of the art techniques forlightweight metal windows, the windows are easily slidable in the pairsof channels in which they are installed, and each shoulder 11a of themiddle track. 7

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 a trim unit according anagram of thewindows as well as the screen is easily removable for the purpose ofcleaning or repair. These figures will be discussed at greater length asthe description proceeds.

My invention is principally concerned with trim unit 16 which is aframe-like structure typically made from trim material such as extrudedaluminum, and which has been carefully configured and constructed tointerfit with certain portions of the inside unit 11. As perhaps bestseen in FIGURES 2 and 5, the extruded trim material from which theoutside unit is constructed is, according to my design, arranged to havean angled. trim member 10a, a connecting leg member 1%, and an outersurface contacting member 100. As will be noted from the several figuresof drawings, these three members or porto contact the outer surface ofdoor 12 about the aperture 13, whenunit It has been disposed ininterfitting relation with unit 11 as seen in FIGURE 3. Surfacecontacting member 11g of inside unit 11 is arranged to contact the innersurface of door 12 about aperture 13, with .tightening means beingprovided for drawing units 13 and 11 tightly together so as to causesurface contacting members 10c and 11g to tightly grip the door.

I prefer to use sheet metal screws 16 for drawing the units together,such as #6 SMS, ling. As seen in FIGURE 1, the screws 16 may be insertedin holes drilled in surface contacting member 11g near the corners ofthe unit 11, with the threads of these screws being arranged to enterundersized holes located in the corresponding positions on unit 10,being located at the, ends of the connecting leg members 10b. As will beseen from FIG URES 3 and 4, the threads of screws 16 are preferablyreceived in configured end portions lite on the extreme ends of theconnecting legs. a

It is significant to note that the trim material according to myinvention may be extruded so as to disposethe angled trim member Ilia inany of several standard'or Y pro-established positions, so that upon theunits it) and 11 being drawn together by screws 16, the outermostportion of the angled trim member will be brought into firm contacteither with the shoulder lid on the back side of 'channel 11:: in themanner to be seen in the right hand l of the triple track material canleave exposed two tracks,

one track or none of the tracks, as may be preferred. It

is to be understoodthat although two different types of him material areshown in FIGURE 3, trim material of more than one type is never used ona given window.

Iprefer the configuration shown in FIGURES 4 and 5' wherein the angledtrim member 10a is in contact with to my invention is preferablyconstructed by cutting the extruded trim material tov desiredlength'using angle each of the four corners, whichare right-anglemembers which interfit with adjacent trim .unit members in the generalmanner shown in FIGURE 2. Considerable rigidity is aflordedby having thecorner angles 2 of a dimension in width that generally corresponds withthe dimension of leg 10b on the side nearest 10a, as perhaps best seeninFIGURES 2 and 3. By disposing the curved end 1% of leg 1% into asomewhat encircling configuration, and by disposing a shoulder 1th at alocation on member 10a spaced a short distance from 1017, a rather wideslot between lite and 10 is definedalong the length of all four membersconstituting a trim unit according to my invention, with each cornerportion of such a unit being arranged to receive the corner members 22in a close fitting relationship of the general nature of that shown inFIGURES 2 and 3. secure each half of each member 22 to the connectingleg member 10b of the respective trim member. Inasmuch as the members 22are not of substantial lengthwise dimension, each slot defined betweenportions we and 101 is empty throughout most of its lengthas seen inFIG- URE'4. Although the members 22 could conceivably be disposed on theopposite or outer side of members 10b, such would cause large corners onthe window unit and would also cause interference with the members 24now to be described.

It will be appreciated that typically no screws are driven into the woodof the door 12 in order to secure the units It) and 11 into interfittingrelation, for the four screws are generally being employed in the mannershown in FIGURE 1 for drawing the units together.

It will be appreciated that if aperture 13 is of considerable dimensionin a door orwall, the side members of the trim unit may tend in use tobow outwardly some- 7 .what, and to prevent this I may employ a screw oneach side members.

my invention to employ extruded trim material-that is configured to havea pair of spaced ridges 24 on'member 10b, extending for the full. lengthof the material. As will be obvious, and as shown in FIGURE 3, the trimmaterial cannot'bow toward the side of the aperture inasmuch asthe'ridges 24 effectively prevent this.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it'will be noted that the triple track materialemployed in the top and bottom portions of the trim unit have screwbosses 25 disposed therein.

The manufacturer vof the tripletrack material may provide/these screwbosses in the top and bottom portions of the window unit in order toreceive the threads of metal cutting screws inserted into holes disposedin the upper andlower portions of the side members of triple trackmaterial. This is to say that the side members of unit '11 are designedto receive a pair of horizontally disposed screws at each upper andlower corner, with these screws extending through the thickness of thetriple track material at channels 115 and lie, with threads of thescrews cutting into and somewhat enlarging the slots of the screw bossesillustrated in channels 11b and in FIGURE 4. This informationis'presented by way of background, for "the details associated. withthe. construc. tion of triple track windows perse isnot apart of thisinvention.

Inasmuch'as it is usually desirable for window panel 15 toremaininitsuppermost position, I have found that a desirable amount-ofinsulation maybe inexpensively and yet efiiectively incorporated intothe triple track window by the utilization of vinylweatherstrip, whichmay be of the configuration shown in FIGURE 6. By virtue of theeatherstrip 2 9being hollow, it can easily'deform as shown iniFIGURE4upon being contacted by the upper-portion of window panel 15. Theprovision of a spearheads shaped locking portion 29 makesit quite asimple matter to'secure the Weatherstrip at the upper portion of themiddle track 0f the window by simply insertingthe: locking portion 2intoithe groove 'formed in the screw boss of upperchannelllb as shown inFIG- A screw v1.7 'is used to URE 4. It should be noted that the screwsextending into the screw bosses do not interfere with the Weatherstrip28, for the screws extend only for a short distance into the upper andlower members, and leave the entire central portion of the screw bossmaterial unusued.

In some installations it may be found that precipitation may tend toaccumulate in screen channel 11c, and accordingly I may provide one ormore drain holes 26 disposed through the central portion of the screwboss so as to allow water to drain from the lower channel 110, as shownin FIGURE 4. As will be noted in this figure, this water will tend todrain along the exterior portion of the angled trim member a of thelower portion of the window and thence fall to the ground.

Water may also tend to accumulate in lower channel 11b and in somerigorous climatic conditions, it may be desirable to drill drain holes26 in channel 11b as well as in channel 11a to permit water to draininto the space at the bottom of the window defined between the outsideunit 10 and the inside unit 11. Because it is very undesirable for waterto accumulate in the window unit, I provide so called weep holes 32 tobe seen in FIGURE 4 as well as in FIGURE 1, whose function is to carryofi any water before it can accumulate. Inasmuch as it may be desirableto extrude trim material specifically for top and bottom member serviceas well as specifically for side member service, the trim materialextruded for top and bottom member use may have the connecting legmember 1015 sloped at a slight angle, say 2, toward the weep holes 32,or in other words, the leg 10b may preferably make a 92 angle withmember 100 instead of a right angle therewith. By no means, however, ismy invention to be limited to applications wherein different material isrequired for side member, or top and bottom member use, for obviouslythe use of ridges 24 is optional, but in any event would not interfere,even in top and bottom locations. Similarly, the two degree slant wouldnot interfere in side member locations, although obviously if a ridge 24is used near position 10a of the connecting leg, it would have to be ofa slightly larger dimension than ridge nearer member 100 in order toprevent a non-symmetrical juncture with the aperture in the door or wallin which it is mounted. 7

Insulation of window units constructed in accordance with my inventionis typically not required, although insulation between the units It) and11 may of course be used if desired. The portion 10a may be fitteddirectly against the inner'portion of surface contacting member 11g asseen in FIGURE 3, as in the upper portion of FIGURE 4. However, inasmuchas water may tend to accumulate in the bottom member, I prefer to run aseam of caulking material on the inner portion of member 11g as seen inFIGURE 4 at 33, so that when portion 102 of the connecting leg is drawnclose by the tightening of screw 16, a water tight joint will beeffected. I also prefer to run a seam of caulk along the inner portionof surface contacting member 10c where all four sides of the outerwindow unit are in contact with the Wood of the door.

As is known, doors typically are supplied in standard thicknesses of 1%inches and 1% inches, so by extruding the trim material to be of adimension to be used properly with the thickness of a selected door, mytrim material may easily adapt a multiple track type window for use withthe door. As will be apparent, an important dimension of the trimmaterial is the dimension of the connecting leg 1012, which must be moreor less in agreement with the thickness of the door or wall with whichit is to be used. It is also desirable, however, to have the angled trimmember 10a be disposed to contact the desired shoulder of the tripletrack material when the screws 16 have been tightened to draw the units10 and 11 together in the aperture of the door.

Portion 10d of the trim material, which I prefer to call the return isdesigned to compensate for slight differences in door or wallthicknesses. This is to say, that if a standard thickness door isslightly too thick, the return 10d will dig into the wood of the door tosome extent, as indicated in the upper portion of FIGURE 4, whereas ifthe door is slightly undersize in thickness, the return 10d will not diginto the wood of the door but rather will only slightly contact the woodand serve to compensate for the discrepancy.

It will thus be seen that by my highly advantageous trim material, theuse of multiple track windows can be vastly extended, and eachutilization of such windows be considerably enhanced aesthetically aswell as be more utilitarian. By stocking complementary inside andoutside units in standard sizes it will be possible for the retailer toeasily furnish window units for apertures of Widths say 21 /2" or 22"and of a height of 34" or 54%". However, by maintaining a supplyof'extruded trimmaterial on hand, the retailer can prepare custom madeunits in any nonstandard size as well.

Furthermore, it should be noted that my trim material may be employed inconjunction with windows designed to slide horizontally rather than inthe vertical direction as illustrated, and in these instances it shouldbe noted that the trim unit is virtually unchanged, except for perhapsthe repositioning of drain holes therein.

Additional versatility of window units utilizing my invention is borneout by the fact that a plurality of windows can be mulled together byuse of standard 1% inch H mull material in the event that two or morewindows are to be grouped together.

As to the physical data of preferred trim material used in theconstruction of trim units in accordance with my invention, I prefer touse an extrudable aluminum such as 63 STS or similar, and when suchmaterial is extruded in the configurations illustrated in the drawings,weighs approximately .211 pound per foot in the dimension appropriatefor 1%" doors, and .271 pound per foot for 1%" doors. This is typically.050 guage aluminum, with portion 101; being typically for 1%" doors,and 1%" for 1% doors, in instances in which the configuration of FIGS. 4and 5 is employed. Member 10b is approximately door thickness.

I claim:

1. A trim unit of pleasing appearance adapted to be secured to a windowunit so as to hold the window unit in an aperture, said trim unit beingframe-like in construction involving top, bottom and side edges, andbeing constituted of extruded material which in cross section comprisesa plurality of portions secured together in an integral manner, each ofsaid portions being angularly disposed with respect to each othersubstantially about a common juncture, one of said portions beingdesigned to reside generally along the sides of an aperture in which awindow unit is being installed, a second of said portions being disposedat approximately a right angle with respect to said first portion, andby contact with a peripheral portion about the aperture serving to holdthe window unit firmly in installed position, and a third of saidportions immediately adjacent to the first mentioned of said portionsand disposed at an acute angle with respect thereto, said third portionbeing adapted to be brought into firm abutting contact with a Windowunit so as to remove from view the side of the window unit nearest saidtrim unit.

2. The trim unit as defined in claim 1 in which said one portion isdisposed at less than a right angle with respect to the plane of saidtrim unit, such portion in the bottom edge of said trim unit beingangled so as to carry away from said window unit any water tending toaccurnmulate, and drainage means provided on said bottom edge of saidtrim unit for providing egress for accummulated water.

3. A trim unit for use with a window unit constructed of lightweightchanneled material, in the channels of which at least one window panelis slidable, said trim unit and said window unit being received onopposite sides of an aperture in which a window unit is to be installed,said trim unit comprising a frame-like device involving top,

bottom and side edges and arranged to interfit with the side of saidWindow unit opposite the channels thereof, tightening means extendingbetween said units at spaced locations for selectively drawing saidunits together into clamping relation about opposite peripheries of saidaperture, said trim unit in cross section comprising a plurality ofportions secured together in an integral manner and angularlyadisposedwith respect to each other about a view and thereby to beautify theappearance of the wincommon juncture, one of said portions beingdisposedat an angle with respect to the plane of said trim unit and beingbrought into contact with said window unit during the drawing togetherof the pair of units, for enhancing the appearance of the side ofthewindow unit nearest the trim unit.

4. The trim unit as defined in claim 3 in which said trim unit isconstructed of extruded material which in cross section comprises aplurality of portions secured integrally together but angularly disposedwith respect to each other, a first of said portions being designed toreside generally along the sides of the aperture in which the installation is being made, a second of said portions being disposed atapproximately a right angle with respect to the said first portion, anda third portion corresponding to said one portion is disposed at anacute angle with respect to said first portion and serving to contactthe side of the window unit nearest said trim unit for thebeautification of the window unit.

5. The trim unit as defined inclaim 4 in which said first portiondefines a slot extending the length of each side of said trim unit, saidtrim unit also including corner mem-v in window openings in doors orwalls of varying thicknesses, comprising inner and outer units adaptedto be placed on opposite sides of an aperture generally in telescopicrelation to each other, said inner unit being a window unit constructedof lightweight channeled material,

in the channels of which at least one window panel is slidable, saidouter unit being a'trim unit comprising a framelike device arranged tointerfit with the side of the window unit opposite the channels thereof,tightening means at spaced locations between said units for selectivelydrawing said inner and outer units together in clamping relation aboutopposite sides of the aperture, an angled trim member on said trim unitwhich, upon said trim unit being brought into close proximity with saidwindow unit, moves into abutting contact with a portion of said win- Idow unit on the side thereof opposite that in which a window panel maybedisposed, said angled trim member serving to remove the rear sides ofsaid channels from sary for fastening means to penetrate the material inwhich the aperture is disposed, said window unit comprising at least oneslidable sash, said trim unitbeing framelike in construction, involvingtop, bottom and side edges, and of comparable size to said window unit,means for selectively drawing said window and. trim units together intoclamping relationship so asto prevent dislocation of said window unitfrom the aperture in which it is disposed, said trim unit beingconstructed of material which in cross section comprises a plurality ofportions secured together in an integral manner and angularlyrdisposedwith respect to each other substantially about a common'juncture, one ofsaid portions being designed to reside generally along the sides of theaperture in which the window unit is to be installed, a second of saidportions being disposed atapproximately a right angle with respect tothe first portion and by virtue of contactwith a peripheral portionabout the aperture, serving to hold the window unit firmly in in stalledposition when said units have been secured together, and a thirdof saidportions located immediately adjacent'the first mentioned ofsaidportions and-disposed at an acute angle with respect thereto, saidone portion, at least at the location along the bottom edge of said trimunit, being angled slightly so as to tend to carry away from said windowunit any water tending to accummulate, said third portion, upon beingdrawn .into contact with said window unit, serving to remove from viewthe side ofsaid window unit nearest said trim unit. ,7 I

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. NQRTON ANSHER, Examiner.-

3. A TRIM UNIT FOR USE WITH A WINDOW UNIT CONSTRUCTED OF LIGHTWEIGHTCHANNELED MATERIAL, IN THE CHANNELS OF WHICH AT LEAST ONE WINDOW PANELIS SLIDABLE, SAID TRIM UNIT AND SAID WINDOW UNIT BEING RECEIVED ONOPPOSITE SIDES OF AN APERTURE IN WHICH A WINDOW UNIT IS TO BE INSTALLED,SAID TRIM UNIT COMPRISING A FRAME-LIKE DEVICE INVOLVING TOP, BOTTOM ANDSIDE EDGES AND ARRANGED TO INTERFIT WITH THE SIDE OF SAID WINDOW UNITOPPOSITE THE CHANNELS THEREOF, TIGHTENING MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SA IDUNITS AT SPACED LOCATIONS FOR SELECTIVELY DRAWING SAID UNITS TOGETHERINTO CLAMPING RELATION ABOUT OPPOSITE PERIPHERIES OF SAID APERTURE, SAIDTRIM UNIT IN CROSS SECTION COMPRISNG A PLURALITY OF PORTIONS SECUREDTOGETHER IN AN INTEGRAL MANNER AND ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TOEACH OTHER ABOUT A COMMON JUNCTURE, ONE OF SAID PORTIONS BEING DISPOSEDAT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF SAID TRIM UNIT AND BEINGBROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID WINDOW UNIT DURINT THE DRAWING TOGETHEROF THE PAIR OF UNITS, FOR ENHANCING THE APPEARANCE OF THE SIDE OF THEWINDOW UNIT NEAREST THE TRIM UNIT.